One such tradition of archangels comes from the Old Testament biblical apocrypha, the third century BCE Book of the Watchers, known as 1 Enoch or the Book of Enoch, eventually merged into the Enochic Pentateuch.

, ta hepta Pneumata, with the capital letter ) – whose identity is not well specified – who are the 'seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne'. Zechariah 4,10 tells about 'seven rejoices' that are 'the eyes of the Lord, Which scan to and from throughout the whole earth.' Revelation 8 ( Revelation 8:2) mentions seven angels ( Ancient Greek: ἀγγέλους ) who 'stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.' Similarly, Revelation 16 ( Revelation 16:1) indicates: 'and I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels ( Ancient Greek: ἑπτὰ ἀγγέλοις ): Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth.' Lastly, Revelation 4 and Revelation 5 ( Revelation 4:5) mention 'seven Spirits' ( Ancient Greek: Πνεύματα The names of other archangels come from tradition. The idea of seven archangels is most explicitly stated in the deuterocanonical/ apocryphal Book of Tobit when Raphael reveals himself, declaring: 'I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand in the glorious presence of the Lord, ready to serve him.' ( Tobit 12,15) The other two angels mentioned by name in the Bibles used by Catholics and Protestants are the archangel Michael and the angel Gabriel Uriel is named in 2 Esdras (4:1 and 5:20) and Jerahmeel is named in 2 Esdras 4:36, a book that is regarded as canonical by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the Georgian and Russian Orthodox Churches, and falls within the Apocrypha section of the Protestant Bible used by Lutherans and Anglicans. In the Septuagint, this is rendered 'the great angel.' The term archangel itself is not found in the Hebrew Bible or the Christian Old Testament, and in the Greek New Testament the term archangel only occurs in 1 Thessalonians 4 ( 1 Thessalonians 4:16) and the Epistle of Jude ( Jude 1:9), where it is used of Michael, who in Daniel 10 ( Daniel 10:12) is called 'one of the chief princes,' and 'the great prince'. The Eight Archangels are commemorated on the Feast of the Archangels. In parts of Oriental Orthodox Christianity and Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Eight Archangels may be honoured, including Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, as well as Salathiel, Jegudiel, Barachiel and Jeremiel (in the Coptic tradition the latter four are named as Surael, Sakakael, Sarathael and Ananael). Lutheranism and Anglicanism's traditions generally recognize three to five archangels: Michael and Gabriel, as well as Raphael, Uriel and Jerahmeel. The Catholic Church venerates seven archangels: in Latin Christianity three are invoked by name ( Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael) while the Eastern Catholic Churches name seven. In those texts, they are referenced as the angels who serve God directly. The concept of Seven Archangels is found in some works of early Jewish literature and in Christianity. Beneath the mandorla of Christ Emmanuel are representations of Cherubim (in blue) and Seraphim (in red). An Eastern Orthodox Church icon of the 'Seven Archangels.' From left to right: Jegudiel, Gabriel (גַּבְרִיאֵל), Selaphiel, Michael, Uriel, Raphael, and Barachiel. Concept found in some works of early Jewish literature Synaxis of the Archangel Michael ( Собор Архистратига Михаила).

Gabriel archangel of